Experiences of sexual and reproductive healthcare professionals working with migrant women living with female genital cutting in Western Australia
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Title
Sexual Ethics
Publisher
IntechOpen
School
School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
31984
Abstract
Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a global public health problem. The practice is particularly prevalent amongst people of African, Middle East and South East Asian descent. FGM/C creates a permanent change to the body of women. When such women migrate to other countries, they bring the associated social and health problems of FGM/C with them. As a multicultural society, Australia has many residents who come from settings in which FGM/C is prevalent. This qualitative study investigated whether healthcare professionals in Western Australia are prepared and able to provide adequate healthcare to women living with FGM/C. We found that there is a paucity of literature in Australia generally, and Western Australia more specifically, about FGM/C and the associated experiences of healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals were found to experience challenges when working with women living with FGM/C, mainly because of poor cultural sensitivity and poor levels of communication, and lacked appropriate education and training for working with women living with FGM/C. This study identified a need for empirical studies on how women living with FGM/C experience sexual and reproductive health services in Western Australia.
DOI
10.5772/intechopen.93353
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Ndasi, D., & Adusei-Asante, K. (2020). Experiences of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Professionals Working with Migrant Women Living with Female Genital Cutting in Western Australia. In Sultan Sheriff (Ed.) Sexual Ethics. IntechOpen.